Competition and Consumer Amendment (Responding to Exceptional Circumstances) Bill 2026; First Reading

Summary

When businesses face exceptional circumstances—like the effects of overseas conflicts—they sometimes need to work together in ways that would normally break competition laws. This change to the Competition and Consumer Act gives the Minister power to declare when such circumstances exist, and allows the ACCC to give special permission for business conduct that might otherwise be illegal but helps with the response effort. The change includes protections so companies can't use these declarations to unfairly harm consumers, and any declaration automatically expires after a set time or can be cancelled by Parliament. This matters because it lets businesses coordinate their response to crises without facing legal punishment, while still preventing them from using the crisis as cover for anti-competitive behaviour that hurts shoppers and other businesses.

What happens at this stage

The bill is introduced to the chamber by its sponsor and given a formal title. No debate takes place. This step exists so all members are officially notified the bill is coming before any substantive discussion begins.

Next: Second Reading, where the chamber debates the bill's overall purpose and principles